Carved froma Depf~~~b!2~

From 1933 to 1942, the Civilian Con-servation Corps and the Works ProgressAdministration employed thousands ofunskilled laborers in public works projectsacross America. As part of President Dela-no Roosevelt's New Deal, they constructedmore than 800 parks and built a networkof service buildings and public roadways inremote areas in nearly every state, includ-ing Georgia.

Just over the South Carolina border,Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge andClayton, Ga., provided the setting for

TIGHT, TESTY RABUN COUNTYCOURSE PROVIDES EXCITEMENT

CCC and WPA camps, and evidence ofthe workers' tireless efforts still remains.

Perched on a hillside under the shad-ow of Tiger Mountain, is a little golfcourse on which ground was broken in1939, when the CCC and the WPA cameto Clayton.

"They built a swimming pool, ten-nis courts and a pavilion along with thegolf course," said Fred Derrick, the RabunCounty Golf Club Director who overseesthe entire operation. "But now only thegolf course remains, along with a spring

Returning to the clubhouse is a picturesque par-5. A row of pines defines the left side of this slightdogleg right. At the end of the 50S-yard, fairly flat fairway, a small pond protects the green.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 • 25

26 • UPSTATE LAKE LIVING

Opposite page: The Rabun CountyGolf Club was carefully carved out

of the natural terrain, with littledisturbance to the original lay of

the land.At right: A roller coaster ride

begins at number three, with aseries of up and down par-3s,

and a downhill blind par-4.

that you approach carefully and hang on."Day in and day out, our golfers tell

us that number seven is the most challeng-ing hole on the golf course," Derrick ex-plained. "You have to hit a high draw toget up the hill and hit a small green."

If you go up, you have to come down,and numbers eight and 17, the second par3/4 combo, do just that. From the tee boxon eight, the green sits far below on a littleknoll, 174 yards away, but playing muchshorter. Miss the green left, right or longand you'll find yourself pitching back up.Seventeen, the par-4 to the same green,lengthens to 288 yards, but begins with ablind tee shot.

Returning to the clubhouse is a pic-turesque par-five. A row of pines definesthe left side of this slight dogleg right. At,the end of the 50S-yard, fairly flat fairway,

a small pond protects the front, left side ofthe green. A line of thick bushes will gob-ble up anything long. It is a fitting test tofinish your round. And, if you signed on toonly play nine, it might just make you goaround again!

Milton Brown works in the pro shop,has played at the Rabun County Golf Clubfor over 20 years and wouldn't think ofplaying anywhere else.

"It is beautiful here nestled in themountains, and the course is tougher thanyou think. It's a challenge!" he said.

Recent improvements - a drivingrange and putting green - have made thiscourse the "Best 9-Hole Golf Course inGeorgia." .:.

Call for a tee time at (706) 782-5500,orjust stop in to play this historic mountaingolf course.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 • 27